I was finding that before, trying to fix the .png output after the fact was killing the image.
Then I decided to try the .hdr output. I expected it to provide bracketed exposures. I guess I am wrong about that. the single image looked like a very bright exposure in Preview, and it looks like mostly black with faint white lines in Gimp. 2.10 (which supports .hdr).
I found this comment by Fletch:
I gather from this that an .hdr image does not have the bracketed exposures. It's a flat image made up from the exposures. I also gather from this comment, that there is no particular advantage in the .hdr output over what can be done with the postpro window in Twilight.Simple answer:
Firstly, if you have Pro version you can save your rendered image as .hdr format. This is the High Dynamic Range image you are looking for. Open the .hdr in a photo editor specifically designed for adjusting HDR images, then save the image from there in the desired format, such as .png (lossless but compressed format)
Secondly, you don't have to save as HDR you can use (Pro or hobby) Twilight's directly internal HDR tonal adjustment capability to adjust the exposure during rendering or after it is completed using the Tone Mapping feature of the Render Dialog.
1. Is that true? The point of exporting .hdr is the same as tonemapping within Twilight?
2. I gather from the comments that the .hdr output in a proper editor should give enhanced control of tonemapping over adjusting a .png for example. I wonder why my output was black, whereas other (downloaded) .hdr i have opened look fine.
3. Is there any way to automatically obtain bracketed exposure images from a rendering for use as layers in PS or GIMP?
Does anyone have any recommendations? Thanks.